Piezo and Pyroelectric effects?

Question

I'm wondering what potential piezoelectric effect has for generating electricity for general purpose use in the real world. Piezoelectricity is generated by some materials under mechanical stress. Would it make sense for instance to coat or insulate transmission lines with piezolectric material and then recoup some electricity generated by the wind on the wires?

Pyroelectricity is generated by temperature differentials across materials. Would it make sense to make some building materials out of pyroelectric materials. Upon heating or cooling the interior there would be a temperature difference between outside and inside and some electricity could be generated which would recoup some of the energy used. Would this be energy efficient?

Answer 1

Hey, so it seems like a good idea, and in theory it is, but you have to consider many factors about the ability to apply the theory. Most piezo and pyroelectric materials are pretty hard to get a hold of. For inseance, Gallium Nitrate, a pyroelectric material, requires a very energy intensive manufacturing process, Gallium has to be smelted to become pure, and smelting means fossil fuels. So you would have to calculate how much energy would be produced by the material, or regained if we put it on power lines, and then how much energy it took to create the material. If it takes 10 years for the material to regain its carbon debt, then its not worth it, and that seems to be the case with these materials.

Many people forget about how much energy it takes to create certain things. For instance, that wonderful hybrid Prius that your neighbour bought may take about 10 years to work off it's carbon debt simply because of all the Zinc in it's battery! So you have to decide whether its worth it.

hope this helps,

m